NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team renewed acquaintances with long-time rivals the Xavier University (La.) Gold Nuggets on Thursday night at the Convocation Center and XU came away with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22) victory to snap a 19-match win streak by the Badgers in the series.
 
SHC grabbed a 6-3 bulge over the Gold Nuggets (5-1) in the first set, but Xavier rallied to take a 7-6 lead and maintained a 15-12 advantage midway through the stanza. The Nuggets then built out a 21-15 cushion and earned a 25-18 victory in the opening set.
 
In the second set, Xavier jumped out to a 12-1 lead and closed out the period with a 25-18 win. The Badgers came out fighting to start the third set and built a 4-1 margin and later held a late 18-15 cushion before forcing a fourth set in a 25-19 decision.
 
The fourth set saw a determined Badger side claw out 8-5 and 15-11 leads only to have Xavier storm back to wrestle away a 21-19 lead and hold off SHC in a 25-22 final set score.
 
SHC now holds a 19-1 record over Xavier in a series that dates back to 2003.
 
As a team, SHC was held to a .121 (41-21-165) attack percentage with five aces, 71 digs and seven total blocks. Payton Gidney collected 11 kills with a solo block while setter Emmarose Neibert handed out 20 assists and libero Cassidi Sterrett scooped in 19 digs.
 
For Xavier, Kayla Black earned 14 kills while Tiffany Phillips distributed 26 assists. XU hit for a .195 (59-27-164) attack percentage with six aces, 86 digs and seven total blocks.
 
The Badgers (1-1) will begin play in the University of Mobile Invitational at H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium versus the host Lady Rams (10-2) on Friday morning at 9 a.m. followed by a match versus the Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) Lady Knights (0-2) at 2 p.m.